Roosevelt Bandwagon, billed as "a collective" have been garnering some decent press of late. In previous reviews there have been Dylan-esque lyrical analogies, while vocally they have been described as treading the same, hallowed, Americana turf as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. The band themselves, however, remain something of a mystery. Their myspace (see below)reveals virtually no biographical information and instead simply extols the virtues and ideals of operating as a musical collective.
UK Americana can be a mixed bag. The idea of seriously transplanting an alt-country style so deeply rooted on the other side of the pond to Twickenham's leafy environs takes some accepting. Ask most Brits what springs to mind when the 'C' word is mentioned and they'll talk of Ten Gallon Hats and Texas two-steps; it is a real challenge to shake of the shackles of pastiche and mere novelty value. So, given the high praise lauded on them in the past were Roosevelt Bandwagon able to triumph?
The answer is yes, absolutely. Their authenticity, it seems, is beyond question. Naturally it helps to have a guest pedal steel player by the name of Kevan Bartholomew who, it transpires, was once a touring member of Emmy Lou's Hot Band, but that is only a part of the story.
The emotive quality of the harmonies is at once heart- breaking and uplifting while the range and depth of material is truly impressive. The use of cello as a lead instrument lends beautiful warmth and a degree of musicality that sets this act well apart from the anglicised-Hootie-and-the-Blowfish-bar-band-style-chugging favoured by many of their peers.
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An initial limited edition pressing of debut album The Canyon is on Fire was completed to coincide with an appearance at last summer's Maverick Festival. It is set for imminent re-release with bonus tracks, although the material on version one sounds very good indeed. The quality of song writing evidenced on the album was very much on display in the live set. Highlights included rousing versions of Shiloh Rain and Train Roll On, a spooky rendition of Seven Years of Plenty and a beautifully understated Sleepless Nights. Songs were interspersed with entertaining stories and a delivery so laid back it lent proceedings an atmosphere more akin to that of the front room of someone's house.
There are several festival appearances scheduled for the summer (among them at the Acoustic Festival of Britain) and an appearance at The Troubadour is booked for the 31st March. In the meantime, this is a great band; you should see them soon before Nashville gathers them up and claims them as her own.
Roosevelt Bandwagon on Myspace
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